Brian Fray

(Canada)

Brian Fray is a Canadian cartoonist from Guelph, Ontario, best known for his cartoon feature 'Fray's Way' and his comic strip 'Le Grand Chef'. He studied Fine Arts at Queen's University and the University of Guelph and holds an Honours Degree in Fine Arts. Fray's comic strip 'Le Grand Chef Pierre' had its origins in the late 1970s, when the artist was asked to draw on-the-spot cartoons at a food show. The goofy chef Fray created was shortly afterwards featured on a line of kitchenware, and in a comic strip syndicated by the Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate between October 1981 and February 1983.

He makes a variety of cartoon features for several monthly special interest publications. One of his longest running features is 'Jake the Baker' for Bakers Journal Magazine. He also makes commercials drawings and book illustrations. Among his clients are the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the University of Guelph, the city of Sudbury, the municipality of Waterloo, Moose Winooski's Restaurants, and Molson, Labatt's & Sleeman Breweries.

Fray revived 'Chef Pierre' after meeting retired chef Ray Claxton from British Columbia, with whom he made the book 'Chef Pierre's Fresh Sheet', containing reprints, new gags and recipes, in 2006.